JP2008118490A - Device, method for selecting and reproducing image, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for selecting and reproducing images capable of easily selecting a desired pieces of image data from many pieces of image data in short time. <P>SOLUTION: In an image selection and reproduction device 1 which displays original image data stored in a storage part 13 on a display device 3 as thumbnail images, selects the thumbnail images by a cursor C which moves so as to instruct the displayed thumbnail images SP1-SP12 and displays original images of the selected thumbnail images on the display device 3, when a fast forward button B13 is depressed once, movement of the cursor C continues. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image selection / playback apparatus, an image selection / playback method, a program, and a recording medium that select an image using thumbnail images.

  A technique has been proposed in which a user can select and display desired image data from a large number of image data recorded in a personal computer, an HDD recorder, or the like in a short time. As an example, there is a technique for selecting desired images by sliding the images in the order of the file name of the image data or the creation date and time. It takes more time than necessary to display the image.

  Therefore, in order to quickly select and display a desired image, when displaying a single shot image and a series of images (high similarity between images) captured using the auto bracket function or continuous shooting function, And a technique for displaying only the first or specific image in the series of images and the series of images has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is a technique in which a plurality of thumbnail images (reduced images) are displayed in the lower area of the screen on which images are displayed, so that desired image data can be selected using the thumbnail images at the time of image browsing. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

However, even if such a technique is used, it has been difficult to significantly reduce the time required to select desired image data from a vast amount of image data.
Therefore, a technique has been proposed that can significantly reduce the time required for image selection by displaying an index image for image selection composed of a plurality of thumbnail images.

Here, the above technique will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 17A is a diagram showing a state in which an index image I composed of a plurality of thumbnail images SP1 to SP9 and an image selection cursor C are displayed on the display screen.
FIG. 17B is a diagram showing a state in which the original image P of the thumbnail image selected with the cursor C is displayed.

  The user presses the right button (not shown) of the cross button, and as shown by the arrow in FIG. 17A, the cursor C so that the thumbnail images SP1 to SP9 are raster scanned from left to right and from top to bottom. The desired image can be selected in a short time by moving.

  When a desired image is selected (SP5 in the illustrated example) and a determination button (not illustrated) is pressed, the original image P is displayed as shown in FIG. 17B.

  As a technique for selecting an image using such an index image, when displaying a single-shot image and a continuous-shot image, a single-shot image and a continuous-shot image are selected. A technique has been proposed in which only one image is displayed as a thumbnail and a desired image can be selected from the displayed thumbnail images (see Patent Document 3).

  Further, image data is obtained for each value (15 = 240 ÷ 16) obtained by dividing the number of image data stored in the storage medium (for example, 240) by the number of thumbnail images that can be displayed on the screen (for example, 16). A technique has been proposed in which representative images of each group are displayed as thumbnails and a desired image can be selected (see Patent Document 4).

In addition, a technique has been proposed in which a thumbnail image displayed can be fast-forwarded and a desired image can be selected in a short time (see Patent Document 5).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-101910 JP 2001-111408 A JP 2002-112079 A JP 2001-230992 A JP 2006-128959 A

However, even if such a technique is used, in order to select a desired image, it is necessary to continue the button operation repeatedly for selecting an image (need to press the cross button many times or to keep pressing it). There was a lot of work until a desired image was selected.
In addition, since the button operation time inevitably increases in proportion to the increase in image data, the user always feels annoyed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image selection / playback apparatus and an image selection / playback method capable of easily and quickly selecting desired image data from a large number of image data.

  The first technical means displays the original image data stored in the storage unit as a thumbnail image on the display screen, selects the thumbnail image with a cursor that moves so as to indicate the displayed thumbnail image, and selects the selected thumbnail image. An image selection / playback apparatus for playing back an original image of a thumbnail image on the display screen, wherein the movement of the cursor is continued when a fast-forward operation element or a fast-rewind operation element is operated once. .

  The second technical means includes a speed setting unit for setting the moving speed of the cursor in the first technical means, and moves the cursor at the preset moving speed of the cursor, and speeds during movement of the cursor. An image selection / playback apparatus that changes a moving speed of a cursor by operating a change operation element.

  According to a third technical means, in the second technical means, the speed setting unit sets the moving speed of the cursor to either high speed or low speed in advance, and operates the speed changing operator while the cursor is moving. Thus, the image selection / playback apparatus is characterized in that the moving speed of the cursor is changed from high speed to low speed or from low speed to high speed.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the second technical means, the speed setting unit accelerates or decelerates the moving speed of the cursor in accordance with a time length during which the speed changing operation element is operated while the cursor is moving. An image selection / playback apparatus characterized by changing a speed.

  A fifth technical means includes a speed setting unit for setting the moving speed of the cursor in the first technical means, and sets the moving speed of the cursor according to the similarity of the thumbnail images displayed on the display screen. An image selection / playback apparatus that sets and automatically changes a moving speed of a cursor.

  A sixth technical means is the fifth technical means, wherein the speed setting unit extracts attribute information as an index of similarity from attribute information of an original image of a thumbnail image displayed on the display screen, and extracts the extracted attribute The image selection / playback apparatus is characterized in that the similarity of the thumbnail images is determined based on the information, and the moving speed of the cursor is set.

  According to a seventh technical means, in the sixth technical means, the speed setting unit determines the moving speed of the cursor determined in correspondence with the degree of difference of the attribute information serving as the similarity index extracted for the thumbnail image. The speed of movement of the cursor is determined by referring to the speed table based on the degree of difference in attribute information that is an index of the degree of similarity extracted for the thumbnail images adjacent to each other during the movement of the cursor. Is an image selection / playback apparatus characterized by automatically changing.

  An eighth technical means is a recording apparatus comprising the image selection / playback apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh technical means.

  A ninth technical means is an information processing apparatus comprising the image selection / playback apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh technical means.

  A tenth technical means is an imaging apparatus comprising the image selection / playback apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh technical means.

  An eleventh technical means is a portable terminal comprising the image selection / playback apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh technical means.

  The twelfth technical means includes a step of displaying the original image data stored in the storage unit as a thumbnail image on the display screen, and a step of selecting the thumbnail image with a cursor that moves so as to indicate the displayed thumbnail image. And a method of selecting and reproducing an original image of the selected thumbnail image on the display screen, wherein a cursor moving step of continuing the movement of the cursor by operating the fast forward operator or the fast reverse operator once. It is an image selection reproduction method characterized by having.

  A thirteenth technical means includes a speed setting step for setting the moving speed of the cursor in the twelfth technical means, and the cursor is moved at the preset moving speed of the cursor and the cursor is being moved. An image selection / playback method characterized by changing a moving speed of a cursor by operating a speed changing operator.

  Fourteenth technical means is the thirteenth technical means, wherein in the speed setting step, the moving speed of the cursor is set to either high speed or low speed in advance, and the speed changing operator is operated during movement of the cursor. Accordingly, the moving speed of the cursor is changed from high speed to low speed or from low speed to high speed.

  According to a fifteenth technical means, in the thirteenth technical means, the speed setting step accelerates or decelerates the movement speed of the cursor according to a length of time during which the speed change operation element is operated while the cursor is moving. The image selection / playback method is characterized in that the speed at which the image is played is changed.

  A sixteenth technical means includes the step of setting the moving speed of the cursor in the twelfth technical means, wherein the moving speed of the cursor is set according to the similarity of the thumbnail images displayed on the display screen. And a method for selecting and reproducing an image, wherein the moving speed of the cursor is automatically changed.

  In a seventeenth technical means, in the sixteenth technical means, the speed setting step extracts attribute information as an index of similarity from the attribute information of the original image of the thumbnail image displayed on the display screen, and extracts it. The image selection / reproduction method is characterized in that the similarity of the thumbnail images is determined based on attribute information, and the moving speed of the cursor is set.

  According to an eighteenth technical means, in the seventeenth technical means, the speed setting step includes a movement speed of the cursor determined in correspondence with a difference degree of attribute information serving as an index of the similarity extracted for the thumbnail image. Is set in the speed table, and the moving speed of the cursor is referred to the speed table based on the difference degree of the attribute information serving as the similarity index extracted for the thumbnail images adjacent in the moving direction during the movement of the cursor. Is an image selection / playback method characterized by automatically changing.

  The nineteenth technical means is a program for realizing the image selection / playback method of any one of the twelfth to eighteenth technical means.

  The twentieth technical means is a recording medium on which the program of the nineteenth technical means is recorded.

According to the present invention, desired image data can be easily and quickly selected from a large number of image data.
In addition, convenience when selecting image data can be improved.

(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of an image selection screen displayed on a display device connected to an image selection / playback device according to the present invention.
In the figure, 100 is a screen of the display device, 101 is a thumbnail image display area, and thumbnail images SP1 to SP12 are displayed. C is a thumbnail image selection means, a so-called cursor, which sequentially moves along the displayed thumbnail images SP1 to SP12 to select a thumbnail image. The cursor C in FIG. 1 is an arrow type, but may be the frame type cursor described with reference to FIG. 17, and the shape is arbitrary.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes an attribute information display area. The thumbnail enlarged image 102a that makes the thumbnail image selected by the cursor C easy to see, the attribute information 102b of the original image of the thumbnail image, for example, the creation date (shooting date) of the original image, the photographer, The shooting location is displayed.

  The user operates the operation button using the image selection screen of FIG. 1 to move the cursor C and select an image to be viewed. The present invention further improves the convenience of the user when selecting an image by changing the moving speed of the cursor C in accordance with the operation state of the operation button and the attribute information of the image data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the original image P of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor C is displayed.
Reference numeral 103 denotes an original image display area on which an original image P of a thumbnail image selected by the cursor C is displayed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the image selection / playback apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and shows an example of operation by the remote controller 2. A receiving unit 11 receives a signal from the remote controller 2 and transfers the signal to the control unit 12.
The control unit 12 controls each block and image selection processing described later. The speed setting unit 12a of the control unit 12 executes processing for setting the cursor moving speed and processing for controlling the cursor moving speed.

A storage unit 13 stores image data (original image data), control information, and the like.
Reference numeral 14 denotes an OSD generation unit that generates the above-described OSD data for the image selection screen, for example, the cursor C in FIG. 1, a frame that partitions the thumbnail image display area 101 and the attribute information display area 102, and the like.
An image output unit 15 outputs image data, thumbnail image data, and OSD data created by the OSD generation unit 14 to the display device 3.

  A remote controller 2 for operating the image selection / playback apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 21 including a plurality of operation buttons and a transmission unit 22 that transmits an operation signal from the operation unit 21 to the reception unit 11 of the image selection / playback apparatus 1. Have.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the operation unit 21 of the remote controller 2.
B1 to B4 are cross buttons for selecting a desired process from a process selection screen (OSD) displayed on the display device 3, B1 and B2 are up and down buttons, and B3 and B4 are left and right buttons. B5 is a determination button for executing the selected process. Further, by operating the up / down / left / right buttons (cursor moving buttons) B1 to B4, the cursor C can be moved to select a thumbnail image. Furthermore, as will be described later, it functions also as a speed change operator for changing the cursor moving speed to high speed or low speed by the up and down buttons B1 and B2.

B11 is a fast reverse button, B12 is a play button, B13 is a fast forward button, B14 is a previous chapter button, B15 is a pause button, B16 is a next chapter button, and B17 is a stop button.
As will be described later, the present invention simplifies the image selection operation by using the buttons provided in a general remote controller, and improves the convenience of the image selection operation.

For example, when the fast-forward button B13 is pressed once, the cursor C in FIG. 1 sequentially moves along the thumbnail images SP1 to SP12. Then, when the cursor C indicates a thumbnail image that the user wants to select, if the stop button B17 is pressed, the movement of the cursor C is stopped and a desired image can be selected.
If the playback button B12 is pressed while the thumbnail image is selected, the original image of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor C is displayed on the display device 3 as illustrated in FIG.

  Next, image selection processing executed by the control unit 12 when the user operates each button of the above-described remote controller will be described with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 5 is a main part flow diagram for explaining the image selection processing.
When the user operates the operation button of the image selection / playback apparatus 1 or the operation button of the remote controller 2 to execute the image selection process, the image selection screen of FIG. 1 is displayed in steps S1 and S2. The cursor C moves to a desired position by operating the up / down / left / right buttons B1 to B4.

  More specifically, the control unit 12 and the OSD generation unit 14 generate the image selection screen (thumbnail image list display screen) of FIG. 1 based on the thumbnail images of the original image data stored in the storage unit 13. The image output unit 15 outputs the generated image selection screen to the display device 3 (step S1). At the same time, the OSD generation unit 14 generates a cursor C (OSD data), and the image output unit 15 outputs the generated cursor C to the display device 3 (step S2).

Next, the control unit 12 monitors whether or not the operation button has been pressed (step S3).
When the operation button is pressed (step S3: YES), the type of the pressed operation button is determined by the control unit 12, and processing corresponding to the type of the pressed operation button is executed.

  When the fast-forward button B13 is pressed, the control unit 12 performs a fast-forward process (step S4), when the playback button B12 is pressed, a playback process (step S5), when the stop button B17 is pressed, a stop process (step S6), and a fast-rewind button. When B11 is pressed, a fast reverse process is executed (step S7). Details of each process will be described later.

Here, the fast-forward process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the fast-forward process.
When the user presses the fast forward button B13 to select a thumbnail image while viewing the image selection screen (step S3 in FIG. 5: YES fast forward button), the control unit 12 shifts the control state to the fast forward state ( In step S41, the cursor C is moved by one thumbnail image and fast-forwarded (step S42).

Here, the cursor movement process (step S42) will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining cursor movement processing.
When the cursor C before movement selects the last thumbnail image (eg, SP12 in FIG. 1) on the image selection screen (step S421: YES), the cursor C is placed on the first thumbnail image on the next image selection screen. It moves (step S422) and performs the process of step S43 of FIG. That is, the cursor C moves to the thumbnail image of the next page.

  The cursor C before movement does not select the last thumbnail image on the image selection screen (step S421: NO), but selects the last thumbnail image (eg, SP4 in FIG. 1) on the thumbnail image display line. In this case (step S423: YES), the cursor C is moved to the first thumbnail image (for example, SP5 in FIG. 1) in the next thumbnail image display line (step S424), and the process of step S43 in FIG. 6 is executed.

  When the last thumbnail image in the thumbnail image display line is not selected (for example, SP3 in FIG. 1) (step S423: NO), the cursor C is moved to the right thumbnail image (for example, SP4 in FIG. 1). (Step S425), Step S43 of FIG. 6 is executed.

Returning to the description of the fast-forward process in FIG.
As described with reference to FIG. 7, after the cursor C has moved (step S42), the controller 12 monitors whether or not a button has been pressed (step S43). When the operation button is not pressed (step S43: NO), the speed setting unit 12a of the control unit 12 performs pre-timeout determination processing (step S44), that is, after the fast-forward button B13 is pressed (step of FIG. 5). S3: YES fast-forward button), a process for determining whether a predetermined time (for example, 0.2 seconds) has passed (step S45).

Here, the pre-timeout determination pre-processing executed before the process of determining whether time-out has occurred will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the timeout determination pre-processing.
The speed setting unit 12a of the control unit 12 acquires the timeout time information (for example, 0.2 seconds) stored in the storage unit 13 (step S441), and after the acquired timeout time and the fast forward button B13 are pressed ( 5 is compared with the elapsed time of step S3: YES (fast forward button) in FIG. 5 (step S442), and the process of step S45 in FIG. 6 is executed.

Returning to the description of the fast-forward process in FIG.
As a result of comparing the elapsed time and the timeout time (step S442 in FIG. 8), when the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the timeout time, that is, when timed out (step S45: YES), the cursor C is moved by one thumbnail image (step S45). S42). That is, once the user presses the fast-forward button B13, the cursor C sequentially moves along the thumbnail image at intervals of 0.2 seconds.

  When the elapsed time is less than the timeout time, that is, when the timeout has not occurred (step S45: NO), the control unit 12 monitors whether or not the operation button has been pressed (step S43).

  When the playback button B12 is pressed, the playback process (step S5 in FIG. 5), when the stop button B17 is pressed, the stop process (step S6 in FIG. 5), the fast reverse button B11 is pressed. In this case, a fast reverse process is performed (step S7 in FIG. 5). When the fast-forward button B13 is pressed again, the cursor movement process is continued.

Here, returning to FIG. 5, the above-described reproduction process, stop process, and fast reverse process will be described.
First, the reproduction process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the reproduction process.
When the playback button is pressed (step S3 in FIG. 5: YES playback button), the control unit 12 shifts the control state to the playback state (step S51), and the original image data of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor C and The attribute information of the original image is acquired from the storage unit 13 (step S52) and sent to the image output unit 15.

The image output unit 15 outputs the original image and the attribute information of the original image illustrated in FIG. 2 to the display device 3 (step S53).
After displaying the original image in this way, the control unit 12 monitors whether or not the operation button has been further pressed (step S54).

  When the fast reverse button B11, the playback button B12, and the fast forward button B13 are pressed (step S54: YES, the fast forward button, the playback button, and the fast reverse button), the playback state is ended (step S55), and step S1 in FIG. 5 is performed. The subsequent processing is executed.

  On the other hand, when the stop button B17 is pressed, a stop process (step S6 in FIG. 5) is performed.

Next, the stop process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the stop process.
If the stop button B17 is pressed while the cursor C is moving (step S61: YES), the cursor movement is stopped (step S62), and the process of step S3 in FIG. 5 is executed.

  If the stop button B17 is not pressed when the cursor C is moving (step S61: NO), it is determined whether or not the original image is being displayed (see FIG. 2) (step S63). If the original image is being displayed (step S63: YES), the original image display is stopped (step S64), and the process of step S1 in FIG. 5 is executed.

  When the original image is not being displayed, that is, when the image selection screen is being displayed (step S63: NO), the display of the image selection screen is terminated (step S65).

Next, the fast reverse process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the fast reverse processing.
In contrast to the fast-forward process of FIG. 6, this fast-reverse process performs a process of returning one cursor when the fast-return button B11 is pressed.

  When the user presses the fast reverse button B11 to select a thumbnail image while viewing the image selection screen (step S3 in FIG. 5: YES fast reverse button), the control unit 12 changes the control state to the fast reverse state. Transition is made (step S71), and the cursor C is moved by one thumbnail image (step S72).

Here, the cursor movement process (step S72) will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the cursor movement process.
When the cursor C before moving (returning) selects the first thumbnail image (eg, SP1 in FIG. 1) on the image selection screen (step S721: YES), the cursor C is moved to the last thumbnail image on the previous image selection screen. The cursor C is moved (step S722), and the process of step S73 in FIG. 11 is executed. That is, the cursor C moves to the thumbnail image of the previous page.

  The cursor C before movement does not select the first thumbnail image on the image selection screen (step S721: NO), but selects the first thumbnail image on the thumbnail image display line (for example, SP5 in FIG. 1). In this case (step S723: YES), the cursor C is moved to the last thumbnail image (for example, SP4 in FIG. 1) in the previous thumbnail image display line (step S724), and the process of step S73 in FIG. 11 is executed.

  When the first thumbnail image in the thumbnail image display row is not selected (eg, SP3 in FIG. 1) (step S723: NO), the cursor C is moved to the left thumbnail image (eg, SP2 in FIG. 1). (Step S725), Step S73 of FIG. 11 is executed.

Here, the description returns to the fast-reverse processing in FIG.
After the cursor C has moved as described with reference to FIG. 12 (step S72), the controller 12 monitors whether or not a button has been pressed (step S73). When the operation button is not pressed (step S73: NO), the speed setting unit 12a of the control unit 12 performs pre-timeout determination processing (step S74), that is, after the fast reverse button B11 is pressed (FIG. 5). Step S3: YES Fast rewind button), a process for determining whether a predetermined time (for example, 0.2 seconds) has elapsed (step S75) is performed. Note that the pre-timeout determination process is basically the same as the process described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As a result of comparing the elapsed time and the timeout time, if the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the timeout time, that is, if timed out (step S75: YES), the cursor C is moved by one thumbnail image (step S72). That is, once the user presses the fast-forward button B13, the cursor C moves in reverse along the thumbnail image at intervals of 0.2 seconds.

  When the elapsed time is less than the timeout time, that is, when the timeout has not occurred (step S75: NO), the control unit 12 monitors whether or not the operation button has been pressed (step S73).

When the playback button B12 is pressed, playback processing (step S5 in FIG. 5), when the fast-forward button B13 is pressed, fast-forward processing (step S4 in FIG. 5), when the stop button B17 is pressed The stop process (step S6 in FIG. 5) is performed.
If the fast reverse button B11 is pressed again, the cursor movement process is continued.

  Thus, once the fast-forward button B13 (or fast-rewind button B11) is pressed, the cursor C can be sequentially moved at a predetermined interval without pressing the fast-forward button 13, and a desired image can be selected. Improves.

(Example 2)
In the second embodiment, when the timeout time is set to two (high speed (for example, 0.1 second) or low speed (for example, 0.2 second)) and the up button B1 is pressed while the cursor is moving, Change the cursor movement speed from high speed to low speed or from low speed to high speed. In this case, the initial value of the timeout time may be either high speed or low speed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing for changing the cursor movement speed.
In the flowchart of FIG. 13, after the cursor is advanced by one (step S42), when the up button B1 is pressed (step S43: YES up button), the speed setting unit 12a of the control unit 12 changes the timeout time. (Step S46), a process of advancing the cursor by one (Step S42) is executed.

  In this change process, a process of changing the timeout time information stored in the storage unit 13 (a process of changing the cursor movement speed), for example, when the timeout time is 0.2 seconds, this time is changed to 0.1 seconds. (Shortening), or conversely, if 0.1 second, change (extend) to 0.2 seconds is performed. Further, when the upper button B1 is pressed, a process for changing the timeout time from 0.1 second (0.2 second) to 0.2 second (0.1 second) is performed.

Further, the time-out time is not limited to two stages, and can be determined in a plurality of stages of three or more, and can also be determined continuously within a predetermined range.
That is, each time the operation button is pressed, the timeout time can be gradually shortened to change the cursor movement speed at a high speed. For example, when the cursor is moving at a low speed (timeout time is 0.3 seconds), if the upper button B1 is pressed once, the time-out time is set to 0.2 seconds and then pressed again. In this case, the timeout time is set to 0.1 second, and the cursor moving speed is changed to a high speed. When the cursor moving speed is decreased stepwise, the time-out period may be increased stepwise as described above each time the lower button B2 is pressed.

  Similarly, the time length during which the operation button is pressed can be measured by a timer, and the cursor movement speed can be changed in a stepwise manner according to the measured time length. For example, when the cursor is moving at a low speed (timeout time is 0.3 seconds), if the upper button B1 is pressed for 1 second (the pressed state continues for 1 second), the time-out time is set to 0.2 seconds. If it is set and pressed for another second (the pressed state continues for a total of 2 seconds), the timeout time is set to 0.1 second, and the cursor movement speed is changed to high speed. When the cursor moving speed is continuously changed, a timeout time proportional to the length of time that the operation button is pressed can be set.

  Further, when the time-up time is set to two or more stages, every time the fast-forward button B13 or another operation button (for example, the next chapter button B16 (or the previous chapter button B14)) is pressed again during the fast-forward process. In addition, each operation button may function as a speed change operator so as to change the cursor movement speed.

  In this way, when the user feels that the cursor moving speed is slow (fast), the cursor moving speed can be made fast (slow), so that a desired image can be quickly selected. Accordingly, convenience for the user is improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the processing for changing the timeout time when the up button B1 is pressed during the fast-forward processing has been described. Similarly, when the down button B2 is pressed during the fast-rewind processing, You can also change the timeout period.

(Example 3)
In the second embodiment, the cursor moving speed is changed when the up button or the fast-forward button is pressed again while the cursor is moving. In the third embodiment, attribute information that is an index of similarity extracted for thumbnail images is used. Refers to the speed table that determines the cursor movement speed corresponding to the degree of difference, and automatically moves the cursor movement speed based on the degree of difference in attribute information that is an index of similarity extracted for thumbnail images adjacent in the cursor movement direction Change.

  That is, the attribute information of the original image of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor (for example, SP2 in FIG. 1) and the attribute information of the original image of the thumbnail image (for example, SP3 of FIG. 1) selected by the moved cursor are displayed. In comparison, the timeout time is changed based on the comparison result and the speed table.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the process for determining the timeout period after the timeout period changing process. In the flowchart of FIG. 14, the timeout time change process (step S4400) is executed before the timeout determination pre-process (step S44).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining timeout time change processing.
First, the speed setting unit 12a extracts attribute information serving as a similarity index from the attribute information of the original image. That is, attribute information of the original image of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor before movement (for example, SP5 in FIG. 1) and attribute information of the original image of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor after movement (for example, SP6 of FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the creation date and time (imaging date and time) is acquired from the storage unit 13 (step S4401).

The speed setting unit 12a compares both the creation dates and times to determine whether or not the creation dates are the same date (step S4402). In the case of the same day (step S4402: YES), the time-out time is changed to T ₀ (for example, 0.2 seconds) with reference to the time-out time change table (speed table) stored in the storage unit 13 (step S4402). S4403), the process of step S44 of FIG. 14 is executed.

Here, the timeout time changing table will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a timeout time changing table 150 showing the relationship between the difference between the creation dates of the two and the timeout time.
As apparent from the table 150 for changing the timeout time, the timeout time T is determined corresponding to the difference between the creation date and time of the both, and the timeout time T ₀ corresponds to the same creation date and time. In addition, a timeout time T ₂ (for example, 1.0 second) corresponds to the creation date and time within one month.

  The speed setting unit 12a of the control unit 12 refers to the timeout time changing table 150, searches for a timeout time corresponding to the difference between the two creation dates, and changes the searched timeout time.

Now, the description returns to the timeout time changing process in FIG.
When the creation dates of both are not the same date (step S4402: NO), it is determined whether or not the difference between the creation dates of both is within one week (step S4404).
If the difference in creation date and time is within one week (step S4404: YES), the timeout time is changed to T ₁ (for example, 0.4 seconds) (step S4405), and the process of step S44 in FIG. 14 is executed.

If the difference between the creation dates is not within one week (step S4404: NO), it is determined whether the difference between the creation dates is within one month (step S4406).
If the difference between the creation dates is within one month (step S4406: YES), the timeout time is changed to T ₂ (eg, 1.0 second) (step S4407), and the process of step S44 of FIG. 14 is executed.

If the difference in creation date / time is not within one month (step S4406: NO), the timeout time is changed to T ₃ (for example, 2.0 seconds) (step S4408), and the process of step S44 of FIG. 14 is executed. .

  That is, as the difference between the creation date and time (imaging date and time) of both increases, the cursor movement speed is reduced. More specifically, if there is a large difference between the creation date / time of the original image of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor before movement and the creation date / time of the thumbnail image selected by the cursor after movement, the similarity between the two images Is considered small. Therefore, a desired image can be selected more appropriately by reducing the cursor movement speed and extending the display time of the thumbnail image.

  On the other hand, if the difference between the creation dates of both images is small, it can be determined that the similarity between the images is high. Therefore, by moving the cursor so as to skip thumbnail images with high similarity (to increase the cursor movement speed) The desired image can be selected more quickly.

In this embodiment, the attribute information serving as an index of similarity is the creation date and time (imaging date and time) of both images. However, not only the creation date and time but also, for example, information on the shooting location (location name, Alternatively, latitude and longitude information acquired from GPS) and various information such as a photographer can be used as an index of similarity.
If it is determined that the similarity is high, the timeout time T in the timeout time changing table 150 is shortened to increase the cursor movement speed. Conversely, if it is determined that the similarity is low, the timeout time T is lengthened and the cursor movement speed is slowed.

By doing so, the cursor movement speed can be finely changed, so that convenience for the user is improved.

  Needless to say, the above-described image selection / playback device can be mounted on a recording device such as an HDD recorder, an information processing device such as a personal computer, an imaging device such as a digital camera, a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA.

  Also, the image is not limited to a still image, and in the case of a moving image, a thumbnail image of a title image may be displayed so that the thumbnail image can be selected.

It is a figure for demonstrating an example of an image selection screen. It is the figure which showed the state which displayed the original image of the thumbnail image selected with the cursor. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the image selection reproduction | regeneration apparatus concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the operation part of a remote control. It is a principal part flowchart for demonstrating an image selection process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a fast-forward process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a cursor movement process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating timeout determination pre-processing. It is a flowchart for demonstrating reproduction | regeneration processing. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a stop process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a quick return process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a cursor movement process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which speeds up cursor movement speed. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which determines timeout time after timeout time change process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a timeout time change process. It is a figure for demonstrating the table for timeout time change. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional screen for image selection.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image selection reproduction apparatus, 12 ... Control part, 12a ... Speed setting part, 13 ... Memory | storage part, 14 ... OSD production | generation part, 15 ... Image output part, 2 ... Remote control, 21 ... Operation part, 22 ... Transmission part, 3 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Display device, 100 ... Display device screen, 101 ... Thumbnail image display area, 102 ... Attribute information display area, 102a ... Thumbnail enlarged image, 102b ... Attribute information, 150 ... Timeout time change table, B1 ... Up button, B2 ... Down button, B3 ... Left button, B4 ... Right button, B5 ... Set button, B11 ... Rewind button, B12 ... Play button, B13 ... Fast forward button, B14 ... Previous chapter button, B15 ... Pause button, B16 ... Next Chapter button, B17 ... Stop button, C ... Cursor, I ... Index image, SP1-SP12 ... Thumbnail image.

Claims (20)

The original image data stored in the storage unit is displayed as a thumbnail image on the display screen, the thumbnail image is selected with a cursor that moves to indicate the displayed thumbnail image, and the original image of the selected thumbnail image is In the image selection / playback device for playing back on the display screen,
An image selection / playback apparatus, wherein the cursor continues to move when a fast-forward operation element or a fast-rewind operation element is operated once.   A speed setting unit for setting the moving speed of the cursor is provided. The cursor is moved at the preset moving speed of the cursor, and the moving speed of the cursor is changed by operating the speed changing operation element while the cursor is moving. The image selection / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The speed setting unit sets the moving speed of the cursor to either high speed or low speed in advance, and operates the speed changing operation element while moving the cursor to change the moving speed of the cursor from high speed to low speed or from low speed. 3. The image selection / playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image selection / playback apparatus changes at high speed.   The speed setting unit changes a speed for accelerating or decelerating a moving speed of the cursor according to a time length during which the speed changing operator is operated during the movement of the cursor. Image selection and playback device.   A speed setting unit configured to set the moving speed of the cursor; and setting the moving speed of the cursor according to the similarity of the thumbnail images displayed on the display screen, and automatically changing the moving speed of the cursor The image selection / playback apparatus according to claim 1.   The speed setting unit extracts attribute information that serves as an index of similarity from the attribute information of the original image of the thumbnail image displayed on the display screen, and determines the similarity of the thumbnail image based on the extracted attribute information. 6. The image selection / playback apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a moving speed of the cursor is set.   The speed setting unit has a speed table in which a moving speed of the cursor determined in correspondence with a degree of difference in attribute information serving as an index of the similarity extracted with respect to the thumbnail image is set. 7. The moving speed of the cursor is automatically changed with reference to the speed table based on the degree of difference in attribute information that is an index of the similarity extracted for the thumbnail images adjacent to each other. The image selection reproduction apparatus described in 1.   A recording apparatus comprising the image selection / playback apparatus according to claim 1.   An information processing apparatus comprising the image selection / playback apparatus according to claim 1.   An imaging apparatus comprising the image selection / playback device according to claim 1.   A portable terminal comprising the image selection / playback device according to claim 1. A step of displaying the original image data stored in the storage unit as a thumbnail image on a display screen, a step of selecting the thumbnail image with a cursor that moves to indicate the displayed thumbnail image, and a step of selecting the selected thumbnail image In an image selection / reproduction method including a step of reproducing an original image on the display screen,
An image selection / reproduction method comprising a cursor moving step of continuing the movement of the cursor when a fast-forward operation element or a fast-rewind operation element is operated once. A speed setting step for setting a moving speed of the cursor;
13. The image selection according to claim 12, wherein the cursor is moved at a preset moving speed of the cursor, and the moving speed of the cursor is changed by operating a speed change operator during the movement of the cursor. Playback method.   In the speed setting step, the moving speed of the cursor is set to either high speed or low speed in advance, and the moving speed of the cursor is changed from high speed to low speed or low speed by operating the speed change operation unit while the cursor is moving. 14. The image selection / playback method according to claim 13, wherein the image selection / playback method is performed at high speed.   The speed setting step changes a speed for accelerating or decelerating the moving speed of the cursor according to a length of time during which the speed changing operator is operated while the cursor is moving. The image selection / playback method described. Setting a moving speed of the cursor,
13. The image selection / playback method according to claim 12, wherein a moving speed of the cursor is set according to a similarity of thumbnail images displayed on the display screen, and the moving speed of the cursor is automatically changed. .   The speed setting step extracts attribute information serving as a similarity index from the attribute information of the original image of the thumbnail image displayed on the display screen, and determines the similarity of the thumbnail image based on the extracted attribute information. The method according to claim 16, wherein a moving speed of the cursor is set. The speed setting step sets, in a speed table, a moving speed of the cursor determined in correspondence with a degree of difference in attribute information that is an index of the similarity extracted for the thumbnail image,
Automatically changing the movement speed of the cursor with reference to the speed table based on the degree of difference of the attribute information that is an index of the similarity extracted for the thumbnail images adjacent in the movement direction during the movement of the cursor. The image selection / playback method according to claim 17.   The program for implement | achieving the image selection reproduction | regeneration method of any one of Claims 12-18.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 19 is recorded.

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